Ink



UNITED STATES 1,439,696 PATENT OFFICE.-

HOWARD WATERS DOUGHTY, OF AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO 'ALGHEMIQ GOLD COMPANY, INC.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INK.

No Drawing.

-To all whom it may concern:

Be it' known that "I, HOWARD WATERS DoUo rrY, a citizen of the United States, re- 1 siding at Amherst, in the county of Hamp- -shire,-.State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inks; and I do hereby declare the following'to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it a-ppertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to inks and vehicles therefor, and particularly to metallic pigment inks suitable for use in stamping titles and decorative designs on book-bindings and for other purposes to which the ink may be adapted.

n stamping titles in gold, for example, on books, labels and like materials,-it has been the practice heretofore to employ gold or imitation gold leaf.- The leaf is applied manually after the surface of the material has been treated with size, andthe surplus leaf must be removed after stamping. Sev-' eral operationsare thus involved and the application of leaf .in the manner described is consequently expensive. The use of artificial leaf effects a saving only in thecost of the leaf. Artificial leaf is, moreover, unsatisfactory because of the inferior quality of the work which quickly tarnishes when ex posed to the effect of the atmosphere.

. The use of metallic pigment inks has been suggested heretofore as a substitute for metallic leaf in stamping operations. No suitable inks have been avallable, however, and it has been impossible to produce satisfactory work therewith. Adifiiculty which has .pre-j vented'th use of metallic pigment inks is due to vehicles which dry too rapidly on the inking rolls, covering them generally with a'gummy coating which prevents transfer of the ink to the type or die. In avoiding this extreme it is necessary to provide an ink which when once applied will dry rapidly.

It is the object of the invention, therefore, to provide an ink and an ink vehicle having the necessary properties, among others comparative slowness in drying'without a tendency to become gummy, a consistency permitting transference of the ink through inking rolls to. the type or die, rapid drying when applied-to the work, and ability to pro tect the pigment from oxidation and consequent discoloration.

Application filed August 14, 1922. Serial No. 581,899.

I have discovered that these desirable properties may be imparted to the ink by the use of a suitable medium in the vehicle for the pigment and that such a medium will, moreover, permit rapid drying of the ink by the application of heat to the type or die. The medium should be volatile, i. e., capable of being vaporized without carbonization,

but its boiling point should be relatively high to reduce vaporization at atmospheric temperatures, and consequently to prevent rapid drying on the inking rolls. The medium must, moreover be a solvent for the body of the vehicle. lreferabl'y the boiling point of the selected medium should be between 200 and 300 C., a boiling point lower than 250 C. being desirable. Solvents boiling materially below 200 C. areunsuitable because the ink dries too rapidly on the rolls and becomes gummy- Solvents boiling materially above 300 C. are likewise unsuitable because the ink cannot be successfully dried except by the application of impracticably high temperatures. A suitable medium may be found in the derivatives of the terpene series of hydrocarbon compounds, the alcohols, of which terpineol is an example, being admirably adapted for the pu1'-' pose. Terpineol is capable of imparting the desired properties to the vehicle in a marked degree, and is at the same time readily available in commerce and relatively inexpensive.

suitable solvent, this and the other solvents mentioned having the distinguishing characteristics above referred to.

In carrying out the invention the solvent is combined with a thickening agent forming the body of the vehicle. Preferably a resin ous material such as colophony (ordinary rosin), dammar, copal, Bergundy pitch or Canada balsam, or a synthetic resin, i. e., a phenol condensation product, is dissolved in the solvent to produce a-vehicle of the desired consistency. A proportion of benzoin may be added with advantage to the composition, replacing a portion of the other resinous material, or benzoin may be substituted for either of the resins mentioned, which, of course, may be mixed or combined in any desired proportions, although for commercial reasons it is preferred to employ colophony alone as a resinous ingredient of the composition. The pigment, preferably a bronze or other metallic powder of the desired color, is thoroughly incorporated with the vehicle to complete the ink.

It is to be understood that equivalents of the terpineol, benzyl alcohol or other solvent may be substituted therefor and that materials naturally containing these solvents may be employed. Artificial mixtures containing the solvents mentioned may be used also. Natural or artificial mixtures of the solvent should have. a minimum boiling point of substantially 200 C. to avoid too rapid drying of the ink upon the rolls.

1 have also discovered that certain higher boiling liquid saturated parafiin hydrocare bons, e. g., those present in fractions of kerosene boiling above 250 C. at normal pressure may be employed instead of terpineol. These higher boiling fractions are mixtures of hydrocarbons, and, while not so desirable as terpineol, they nevertheless are capable of producing a satisfactory ink when used as a solvent for the resin. The paraflin compounds referred to may be combined with terpineol and terpineol-containing mixtures also with successful results.

The bronze or other metallic powder used may be the ordinary article of commerce and may consist, for example, of an alloy of copper with other metal or metals adapted to impart the desired color to the alloy. The alloy is reduced to a state of fine sub-division in the usual manner. Metallic powders congaining metals other than copper can be use As an example of the application of the invention, the vehicle may comprise four parts of the solvent, terpineol or benzyl alcohol for example, to one part of ordinary rosin. Preferably the solvent is heated to a temperature ranging from 100 to 130 C. and is maintained at that temperature while the rosin is dissolved therein. The proportions of resin and solvent may be varied within the limits necessary to-produce a vehicle of the proper viscosity. The vehicle and metallic powder are thoroughly mixed preferably in the proportions of two parts of the powder to one part of the vehicle.

The ink produced as described may be applied by means of the usual ink fountain or table to the inking rollers and thence transferred to the type or die. Drying of the ink on the rollers, a fault which has characterized inks heretofore suggested, is avoided. The ink dries very slowly at atmospheric temperature owing to the high boiling point 1,4so,cee

of the volatile solvent. It dries rapidly, however, when applied with a heated die. The impression is highly glossed and the vehicle forms a lacquer which protects the pigment from tarnishing, thus providing a permanent and highly satisfactory title or decoration on book bindings and the like. The color will depend upon the particular pigment employed which may be other than metallic in character.

The ink described, though particularly suitable for book-binders use, will serve other purposes of decorative printing. It is 7 adapted to materially reduce the cost of such {printing because of the low cost of the ink "and the simplicity of its application.

, Various changes may be'made in the details of the invention without departing therefrom or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

' I claim 1. An ink having a metallic pigment and a vehicle comprising a resinous substance and terpineol as a solvent therefor.

2. An ink having a metallic pigment and a vehicle comprising a resinous substance and a mixture of terpineol with other solvents for the resinous substance.

3. An ink having a metallic pigment and a vehicle comprising a resinous substance and a solvent containing terpineol.

4. An ink havinga metallic pigment and a vehicle comprising a solvent containing terpineol and a thickening agent dissolved therein.

5. An ink having a metallic pigment and a. vehicle comprising ordinary rosin dissolved in a solvent containing terpineol.

6. An ink having a metallic pigment and a vehicle comprising ordinary rosin dissolved in terpineol.

7. In an ink a vehicle comprising a solvent containing terpineol and a thickening agent dissolved therein.

8. In an ink a vehicle comprising terpineol and a thickening agent dissolved therein.

9. In an ink a vehicle comprising a resinous material and a'solvent therefor conta'ininv terpineol.

10. Tn an ink a vehicle comprising ordinary rosin and a solvent therefor containing terpineol.

'11; In an ink a vehicle comprising ordinary rosin and terpineol as a solvent therefor.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' HOWARD WATERS- DOUGHTY. 

